THE END OF THE HOSE

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I attended a funeral today at a local church. When the pastor stepped to the pulpit, he began to speak about the virtues of the one who had gone on to her reward.

"Louise was first of all a servant. She watered the plants and flowers around the church on a weekly basis. And when she felt the janitor hadn't done an adequate job on the church steps, she would get out the broom and finish the job.

"When I would drive up to the church, and see Louise's car, all I'd have to do is find the end of the hose, and I'd find her, or locate the broom and I'd locate her."

I think as believers we should be about our Father's business. And more often than not, our Father's business has little or nothing to do with fame or fortune. In an age when our Christian culture is taken up with "the names and the notables," among us, it is refreshing that people like Louise still water the flowers and sweep the steps; without any need for a name or notoriety.

As the pastor ended his monologue, he mused,

"I think with Louise's homegoing, some of our plants might look a bit dry, and the steps might gather a bit of dust."

A fitting tribute to the contribution of one woman who was far less concerned about pleasing people, and inestimably more conscious about pleasing the One who loved her and gave Himself for her.

by William McDonald, PhD